The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Artificial reef before next monsoon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Artificial reef before next monsoon

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

To make Kovalam a premier surfing destination

Department of Harbour Engineering is setting up the submerged surf reef
If successful, can be replicated in other beaches

Thiruvananthapuram: The Rs.5-crore multi-purpose artificial surf reef to be set up off the coast of Kovalam will be completed before next season.

Department of Harbour Engineering is setting up the submerged surf reef for Kerala Tourism to change the nature of waves at Eve’s beach and to make Kovalam a premier surfing destination.

Pre-qualification bids have been received for the project and a technical committee will soon evaluate it, a top official at the Harbour Engineering Department told The Hindu.

In the next step, the authorities will invite price bids for the project.

The agency has to be selected and an environmental committee comprising experts from various fields has to clear the artificial surf project, a tourism official said. If the pilot project is found to be successful, it can be replicated in other beaches of the State.

Tourists arriving from all over the world can look forward to water sports such as surfing, wave riding, scuba diving, snorkelling, boating and water skiing at the resort by the middle of next year.

“Further studies have to be conducted and exact location of the surf worked out. The work will need just 2-3 months. We hope to complete the project before the onset of the monsoon,” the harbour engineering official said.

The 500-metre-long reef, to be made out of giant non-woven geo textile bags filled with sand, will remain submerged with its crest remaining just below the low tide level. Placed at a depth of 3-7 metres, it will block waves more than one metre high, leaving only small waves to wash the shore.

Harbour

A fairly tranquil basin will be created for fishing boats. It will function as a small harbour area and the fishermen can take their boats out through the surf zone.

According to experts, the reef would enable stabilisation of the beach and generation of a wider beach, which can stay throughout the year.

The funds have been made available to Kerala Tourism from the Centre’s tsunami rehabilitation programme.

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